TWHS grad Danny Amendola becomes go-to guy for Rams

Published 10:54 pm, Monday, November 15, 2010

St. Louis Rams wide receiver Danny Amendola catches a pass against Detroit Lions in earlier this season in Detroit.

St. Louis Rams wide receiver Danny Amendola catches a pass against Detroit Lions in earlier this season in Detroit.

Photo: AP

TWHS grad Danny Amendola becomes go-to guy for Rams

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ST. LOUIS - Plucked from the Eagles’ practice squad last year, diminutive Danny Amendola has made the most of his chance with the St. Louis Rams.

The 5-foot-11, 186-pounder has become rookie Sam Bradford’s go-to wide receiver, rising above the rest of a no-name, injury-plagued crew. He’s been clutch, too, for a surprise team that’s one game out of the NFC West lead.

“He’s able to do so many things for this offense,” Bradford said Wednesday. “He knows what he’s doing, he knows the type of route he’s going to have to run to get open, and he just seems to get open all the time.”

Amendola, a 2003 graduate of The Woodlands High School, is the Highlanders all-time leading receiver and helped the team advance to the Class 5A state final his senior season.

Before the Ram’s bye last week, Amendola was second in the NFL with 17 third-down receptions. He leads the Rams (4-5) with 52 catches and has had a TD in the last two games. He’s also been effective on kickoff and punt returns, with a 42-yarder earlier in the season.

“I just try to run the best route I can, catch the ball and hopefully get the first down,” Amendola said. “It feels good. You get that opportunity, you’ve got to run with it.”

Amendola’s production has somewhat quieted criticism of the Rams’ failure to invest in wide receivers to complement Bradford, the No. 1 pick of last April’s draft, and two-time Pro Bowl running back Steven Jackson. They were needy even before losing Donnie Avery in the preseason and Mark Clayton early in the year, and have only five wide receivers on the roster.

The front office felt good enough about what was left, and the chemistry in the locker room, that they declined a shot to claim Randy Moss off waivers last week.

“If you can add a talent like that, it would definitely help us,” Jackson said before Moss landed with the Titans. “But if it doesn’t happen, we’re not going to lose any sleep about it.”

Bradford has rarely thrown deep for an offense content to chip away, and the other wide receivers haven’t done much, with Brandon Gibson, Laurent Robinson and rookie Mardy Gilyard combining for 36 catches and two scores. Gilyard, a fourth-rounder who has only six catches, has been hindered by learning plays for three different positions, and Robinson has been hobbled by a foot injury.

“I don’t worry about the names,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “I love all of them. I love them when they’re making plays, and when they’re not we’re just going to coach them up.”

Amendola established himself as much more than a fill-in last year, setting a franchise record for kickoff return yards and catching 43 passes. Most of his receptions come on quick slants for short gains, and only once, in the opening loss to the Cardinals, did he average more than 10 yards a catch.

If the Rams could get a deep threat it would open up things for Amendola from the slot. For now his specialty is keeping the chains moving.

Bradford is second in the NFL in converting third downs of 11 yards or more, going 15 for 18. Most of that’s because of Amendola.